Control valve for a shower

ABSTRACT

A control valve for a shower has a body having a water inlet defined at a first end of the body, a first water outlet defined at a second end of the body, a second water outlet defined at a middle portion of the body, and a chamber in communication with the water inlet, the first water outlet and the second water outlet. The first water outlet is connected with a fixed shower; and the second water outlet is connected with a hose. A handling rod has an inner end received in the chamber. A valve core is formed at the inner end and threadingly mounted in the chamber. An outer end of the handling rod extends out from the chamber, whereby, the handling rod can be turned to alternatively communicate the water inlet with the first water outlet and the second water outlet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to a shower, and more particularly to acontrol valve for switching water outlets of a shower.

2. Description of Related Art

With reference to FIG. 10, a first conventional control valve has a body(70). A water inlet (72) is defined at a first end of the body (70) andconnected with a water supply pipe (720). A first water outlet (73) andsecond water outlet (74) are separately defined at a second end of thebody (70), wherein a fixed shower (730) is connected to the first wateroutlet (73), and an adjustable shower (not shown) is connected to thesecond water outlet (74) by a hose (740). A handle (71) is mounted on atop end of the body (70) for switching between the two water outlets(73, 74), and water can alternatively flow out from the fixed shower(730) or the adjustable shower.

However, the control valve is generally installed at a high position, somost people of short stature cannot reach the handle (71) and need ataller person to operate the handle (71) during bathing, which is veryinconvenient for the users.

As an improvement for the conventional control valve, another controlvalve is illustrated in FIG. 11. The control valve has a body (80) witha water inlet (82) and two water outlets (83, 84). A handling rod (81)is mounted between the two water outlets (83, 84) and extends downwardsfrom a bottom of the body (80). A valve core (810) is mounted at a topend of the handling rod (81). A fixed shower (830) is connected with thefirst water outlet (83) and a hose (840) is connected between the secondwater outlet (84) and an adjustable shower (not shown). In the status asshown in FIG. 11, water from the water inlet (82) can flow through thefirst water outlet (83) and out from the fixed shower (830). Because thehandling rod (81) is installed at a low position, the person of shortstature can pull or push it to switch water between the fixed shower(830) and the adjustable shower.

However, users, especially children, often pull downwards the handlingrod (81) with an excessive force, which may cause the handling rod (81)to become disengaged from the body (80).

Therefore, the invention provides a control valve to mitigate and/orobviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a controlvalve which enables water flow to be switched between two water outletsby the turning of a handle.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a control valvefor a shower in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of thecontrol valve in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the control valve of FIG. 1 in astatus of a water inlet in communication with a first water outlet;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the control valve of FIG. 1 in astatus of the water inlet in communication with a second water outlet;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment in accordance withthe invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the control valve of FIG. 5 in astatus of the water inlet in communication with the first water outlet;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the control valve of FIG. 5 in astatus of the water inlet in communication with the second water outlet;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of a third embodiment of the controlvalve in a status of the water inlet in communication with the firstwater outlet;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the third embodiment of the controlvalve in a status of the water inlet in communication with the secondwater outlet;

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of a conventional control valve for ashower; and

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of another control valve for a shower.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIG. 1, according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention, a control valve for a shower has a body (10). A water inlet(12) is defined at a first end of the body (10). A first water outlet(13) is defined at a second end of the body (10), and a fixed shower(130) is connected with the first water outlet (13). A second wateroutlet (14) is defined at a middle portion of the body (10) and inclinedtowards the water inlet (12), and a hose (140) is connected with thesecond water outlet (14). A handling rod (11) is mounted between thefirst water outlet (13) and second water outlet (14) and substantiallyextends downwards from a bottom of the body (10). The handling rod (11)has an outer end (not numbered) extending out from the body (10) and aninner end (not numbered) received in the body (10). A knob (110) ismounted on the outer end of the handling rod (11).

With reference to FIGS. 2-3, the body (10) has a chamber (100) definedtherein and in communication with the water inlet (12), the first wateroutlet (13) and the second water outlet (14). A valve core (111) isformed at the inner end of the handling rod (11) and movably received inthe chamber (100). A plurality of O-rings (112) is provided outside anupper portion of the valve core (111), and an external thread (113) isformed on an outer periphery of a lower portion of the valve core (113).An internal thread (103) is formed at a lower portion of the chamber(100) and engaged with the external thread (113) to threadingly mountthe valve core (111) in the chamber (100). A cover (119) is mounted at abottom of the chamber (100) and the handling rod (11) extends out fromthe cover (119).

When the valve core (111) is in a position as illustrated in FIG. 3, thewater inlet (12) is communicated with the first water outlet (13), andthe second water outlet (14) is shut off by the valve core (111), sowater can flow out from the fixed shower (130). When a user turns thehandling rod (11) by the knob (110) to move the valve core (111) to aposition as illustrated in FIG. 4, the water inlet (12) is communicatedwith the second water outlet (14), and the first water outlet (13) isshut off, so water can flow through the hose (140).

With reference to FIG. 5, a second embodiment of the present inventionhas a structure is similar to the first embodiment as described above.Compared with the first embodiment, the water inlet (12) in the firstembodiment is used as the first water outlet (13′), and the first wateroutlet (13) in the first embodiment is used as the water inlet (12′).Therefore, the second water outlet (14′) in the second embodiment isdefined between the handling rod (11′) and the first water outlet (13′)and inclined towards the first water outlet (13′).

When the valve core (111′) is in the position as illustrated in FIG. 6,the water inlet (12′) is communicated with the first water outlet (13′),and the second water outlet (14′) is shut off, so water can flow outfrom the fixed shower. When the user turns the handling rod (11′) tomove the valve core (111′) to the position as illustrated in FIG. 7, thewater inlet (12′) is communicated with the second water outlet (14′),and the first water outlet (13′) is shut off, so water can flow throughthe hose (140′).

With reference to FIGS. 8-9, a third embodiment of the present inventionhas a structure similar to the first embodiment but the handling rod(11″) inclined towards the first water outlet (13″) to facilitate theuser to operate the handling rod (11″). The second water outlet (14″) isformed between the water inlet (12″) and the handling rod (11″).

When the valve core (111″) is in a position as illustrated in FIG. 8,the water inlet (12″) is communicated with the first water outlet (13″),and the second water outlet (14″) is shut off by the valve core (111″),so water can flow out from the fixed shower (130″). When the user turnsthe handling rod (11″) to move the valve core (111″) to the position asillustrated in FIG. 9, the water inlet (12″) is communicated with thesecond water outlet (14″), and the first water outlet (13″) is shut off,so water can flow through the hose (140″).

Therefore, according to the invention, the movement of the valve core(111) is controlled by turning the handling rod (11) to prevent thevalve core (111) from being pulled out from the body (10) under anexcessive force.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerouscharacteristics and advantages of the present invention have been setforth in the foregoing description, together with details of thestructure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrativeonly, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape,size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention tothe full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms inwhich the appended claims are expressed.

1. A control valve for a shower comprising: a body having a water inletdefined at a first end of the body, a first water outlet defined at asecond end of the body, a second water outlet defined at a middleportion of the body, and a chamber in communication with the waterinlet, the first water outlet and the second water outlet; and ahandling rod substantially extending downwards from a bottom of thebody, the handling rod having an inner end received in the chamber, avalve core formed at the inner end and threadingly mounted in thechamber, and an outer end extending out from the chamber, whereby, thehandling rod can be turned to alternatively communicate the water inletwith the first water outlet and the second water outlet.
 2. The controlvalve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handling rod has a knob mountedon the outer end thereof.
 3. The control valve as claimed in claim 1,wherein the valve core has a plurality of O-rings provided outside anupper portion thereof, and an external thread formed at an outerperiphery of an lower portion thereof; and the chamber has an internalthread formed at a lower portion thereof and engaged with the externalthread to threadingly mount the valve core in the chamber.
 4. Thecontrol valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein a cover is mounted at abottom of the chamber and the handling rod extends out from the cover.